Its been a while. Pup recommendation please!

[JimmyMoorby]

I'm thinking of putting some new pups in my Les Paul Custom.  I've had some winning combo's but I want to simplify my setup and stick to the same overdrive channel as much as poss on my 5150 iii amp.

The 3rd channel has shite loads of gain, it sounds great but you have to watch it doesn't get 'nasal'.

I'm looking for a bridge pickup that sound monstrous, metal.... as brutal as can be BUT Metallica/BLS kinda style but here's the catch the output needs to be as low as possible because the gain will be so high and it can't have lots of hi mids because it could get nasally.

BKP recommended the Cold Sweat.  I'd be inclined to agree but i'm tempted by the Juggernaut too.  Think I can go any lower on output?  What about some other suggestions?

Cheers
Jim

[Kiichi]

If the Coldsweat is an option perhaps the MM is also still on the table. Should have even less higher mids IIRC. And the output should still be around Jugger terrotory or lower if I am not mistaken.

If it was not for low output I might have thrown in the Warpig too. Brutal as can be.


Otherwise there is the thought of using an actually lower output pickup, even if it is brighter and using lower value pots.



Those are my initial thoughts at least.

[Dave Sloven]

I would go with BKP's suggestion here.  CS is very good for thrash tones.  Juggs are probably too rounded and middy.

[Telerocker]

I think CS too, to prevent things get muddy. Lower output would bring you in the vintagesection, I guess you're not looking for hot PAF's. Maybe the Blawkhawk, yet the looks don't really fit a LP imo.

[Dave Sloven]

I have the Cold Sweat set and the bridge is definitely the lowest output out of all of my BKP bridges (Stockholm, Nailbomb, Warpig). The closest I've heard personally is the Emerald in terms of output.  I fitted one to a friend's Les Paul.  The Cold Sweat is closer to the Emerald in output than any of the others I've mentioned.  The CS has more bottom end than the Emerald and less high mids

[ericsabbath]

the vhII is quite uncompressed and as tight sounding as the cold sweat, but still pretty loud and punchy
sounds huge in les pauls
think of iced earth's framing armageddon and the crucible of man sort of tight and crunchy tones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IllyrTaeTO4

[JimmyMoorby]

Cheers for the comments lads.

I've gone for the cold sweat.  If it's too much in terms of output then i'll then consider the black dog on vhii.
I really can't see it not having enough output but if it did i'd go straight for the Juggernaut but as I say I can't see this happening.  The Juggernaut didn't seem high output when I had it but it need seem saturated and tight which put me off when push came to shove.  Most people have said cold sweat, bare knuckle suggested cold sweat and I like the sound of the full but not overbearing mids.....plus I like the idea of a slightly more ott john sykes tone.

I'm going to experiment and i'm keeping my eye on a few mid-high output bridge pickups for the neck....i'll keep you posted on this.

[Dave Sloven]

I think you will be happy with the Cold Sweat.

[Slartibartfarst42]

The Cold Sweat sounds ideal to me. It's an excellent choice in a Les Paul. If you want lower output, I'd be looking at the Emerald rather than the Black Dog for this one.

[JimmyMoorby]

The Cold Sweat sounds ideal to me. It's an excellent choice in a Les Paul. If you want lower output, I'd be looking at the Emerald rather than the Black Dog for this one.

Had an emerald there were so many good things about it but one major draw back the low end is just non-existent.  I know some extreme metal guys use them and I can see why BUT they obviously get the oomph from drop tunings and I play in e flat.

Great for leads though and it's tight but no guts at all

[Dave Sloven]

Yeah you really need something like an Explorer to get a good result out of an Emerald for heavier stuff

[JimmyMoorby]

It wouldn't by my first choice but yeah it definitely needs to go in a dark guitar so an explorer could work my emerald went into my les paul custom and it was great apart from the complete lack on bottom end each to their own though obviously.